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Sadly – the UCP STOLE from thousands and thousands of Alberta Public Servants. They did so by hiding their theft within a large Omnibus Bill (Bill 22) that amended 35 pieces of legislation. Bill 22 passed 1st, 2nd, and 3rd readings in the legislature – all within 3 days and after only 10 hours of debate!
That’s a whole 10-hours of debate to amend 35 pieces of legislation . . . that’s all the time it took to steal Billions from Alberta Public Servant Pensions!
Bill 22 passes 3rd reading at Alberta legislature; ethics commissioner cannot ‘delay proceedings’
Bill 22 also allowed for the UCP to fire the Election Commissioner who was investigating the UCP Leadership scandal – Leader of the opposition Rachel Notley stated “Today’s passage of Bill 22 is a black mark on this premier,” she said “Jason Kenney has turned the assembly into a bully pulpit… it is the most disgusting abuse of power in the history of Alberta.” She went on to say “The UCP premier saw his party operatives and insiders being investigated for fraud, forgery and illegal donations in a leadership race tied to his campaign,” said Notley. “So he drafted legislation to effectively circumvent that independent investigation by terminating the investigator.”
It is likely Bill 22 was in the works only moments after (perhaps even before) the UCP took power in the spring of 2019. It only took them 6 months to show decisively what they are capable of. The degree of disrespect they were willing to show Albertans back then is no different than the degree of disrespect they are showing Albertans today relating to any number of issues i.e. pandemic travel, tearing up contracts, rescinding coal policies, attacking education, health care, vulnerable Albertans . . . and the list goes on.
The amount of “TRUST” the entitled UCP are willing to shatter is astounding!
Tess Owen called out the Local Authorities Pension Plan (LAPP) for slashing her pension back in August 2020. City News reached out to LAPP (who refused to speak with reporter on record) advising that the changes took effect more than 4 months ago (April 1, 2020) and that the decision was made and announced by Government more than 9 months ago (November 2019).
Perfect example of how 'trustworthy' UCP government treats its public servants!
Why would the UCP government steal pensions?
I believe there are many reasons, but the most prevailing one would relate to the fact that Jason Kenney's government was about to (has, and will continue to) slash public sector jobs. Kenney needed to protect AIMCo from mass pension exodus, and he just found Billions he could take from public servants (most having no idea) and invest to "Make Alberta Great Again"!
"Announced" (according to LAPP) must mean hiding the changes in the large Omnibus Bill 22, passing the Bill after 10 hours of debate, and then advising their members on February 24, 2020 (5 weeks before becoming law and at the beginning of pandemic shut downs) stating nothing more than "It is likely that lump sum payments will be lower."
Did they, or anyone say 30-50% lower?? I guess that qualifies as "Announced" to LAPP . . . and the UCP!
GoFundMe / Petition / FOIP & Lawsuit Updates
My Intention is to launch a Class Action Lawsuit - when the time comes, please join the fight / be part of the solution and help restore billions back into public servant pensions!
At this time, a GoFundMe campaign is NOT underway.
However, once a highly qualified law firm is chosen to represent this suit, a GoFundMe campaign may be launched to support the action – if/when the time comes, please consider providing your support.
The UCP cannot be allowed to get away with stealing hundreds of Millions from your pensions.
I’ve already invested over $10,000 of my own money (which is tax deductible by the way) seeking my own legal advice and remedies – but I may be unable to further this fight alone.
Show Kenney and the splintered UCP caucus that public servants and Albertans have had enough. We are ready, willing and able to fight back, in the media, online, in the legislature and in the courts!!
At this time I have not activated a petition. But expect this will come in due course.
If you are an Alberta public servant and you have been contributing to the Local Authorities Pension Plan (LAPP), the Public Service Pension Plan (PSPP), the Management Employees Pension Plan (MEPP) or the Special Forces Pension Plan (SFPP) on April 1, 2020 you had thousands, if not hundreds of thousands stolen from your pension thanks to Alberta’s UCP government and Bill 22.
If you think getting back what was stolen from you is something worth fighting for, please consider signing a petition when once becomes available and help reverse this massive injustice perpetrated on public servants by Jason Kenney and his UCP caucus!
Just Let It Rain
I have submitted Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Requests to Access Information (FOIP Requests) to Alberta Pensions Services Corporation (APSC), Alberta Investment Management Corporation (AIMCo), and the departments of Treasury Board and Finance (TBF), and Justice and Solicitor General (JSG).
I have received responsive documents from AIMCo and Treasury Board and Finance. I have learned that the pension plans were well funded as of December 2019 – so why the change?
I’ve also learned that the government was well aware (in 2018) of the significant reduction in payout to pension holders seeking to manage their own pensions and that there was a ‘rush’ to implement the change and lack of motivation to communicate the change to avoid “a run on the plan”.
I am currently awaiting delivery of thousands of responsive documents from APSC and response to my 4th FOIP request to TBF.